Strathmore Learning and Innovation Centre announced by BVC and feds

March 1, 2017

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This is an excerpt from an article printed in the Strathmore Standard on March 1st, 2017.

The announcement was made at the Bow Valley College South Campus in Calgary before dignitaries from the school, the Town of Strathmore including Mayor Michael Ell, and the Honourable Kent Hehr on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Bow Valley College Vice President David Mitchell acted as the event’s master of ceremonies.

“Strathmore has been very important to me and my family,” said Kent Hehr, Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of Defence.

Hehr explained that he was born at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary in 1969, but his family moved to Strathmore where his father worked as a high school teacher.

“My dad actually says it was the best two years he spent as a school teacher,” he said.

He remarked about his excitement at the ability to see the community grow and prosper like it has over the years, and how it’s going to be part of the exciting initiative with Bow Valley College that will give young and old alike an opportunity to build their lives in the 21st century economy.

“Having the bricks and mortar there to allow the community to grow, to prosper, to tap into this educational facility, I think is going to be good for that region of Alberta,” said Hehr.

“But also, more importantly, the country, because as we have increased globalization, computerization and automation, we are going to have to need a highly skilled workforce in order to compete and add to our economic output.”

In terms of giving rural students better access to post-secondary education, the minister said, “If we can have people living and working and being educated in their own communities it means that they can be more productive.”

“Whether that be with their families, whether it be in their studies or their jobs and making sure that we have opportunities for people to succeed from all over this province and this country is important to our government,” he said.

The federal government will be investing $394,000 in Bow Valley College. The college itself will be investing $394,000 for a total of $788,000 for the creation of a new Strathmore Learning and Innovation Centre.